Running machine Zatopek no-show
Training block takes precedence for McSweyn
HE’S owned the event in recent times but a change of programming has forced King Island running machine Stewart McSweyn to bypass this year’s edition of the Zatopek:10.
The national 10,000m championship is usually held in December at Lakeside Stadium but due to COVID-19 issues the event has been moved to Tuesday night at Box Hill‘s Hagenauer Reserve.
McSweyn, 25, is coming off an extraordinary 12 months in which he set Australian records in the 1500m, mile, 3000m and 10,000m.
He is already qualified for the 10,000m for the Tokyo Olympics — even though he hasn’t decided whether he will run the event — after breaking the Australian record at the 2019 Zatopek.
Athletics Australia middledistance coach Nic Bideau, who has previously guided McSweyn’s career, said the world championships finalist was in an important training block in Melbourne.
“He‘s already been selected in it so he has other priorities at the moment,” Bideau said.
“He has to be careful not to fire all of his shots too early and save his mental energy for running against the big boys.”
McSweyn may race in a two-mile handicap event at the Parkdale Gift next month before a possible showdown with training partner Matthew Ramsden over 1500m in the lead-up to the national championship in April.
In his absence, the men’s title will be a clash between Melbourne Track Club teammates Jack Rayner, Brett Robinson and David McNeill.
Steeplechaser Genevieve Gregson is aiming for an Olympic standard qualifying time of 31min25sec but will have her hands full in an open women’s Zatopek:10.
The reigning Zatopek champion will face last year‘s runnerup Canadian Andrea Seccafein again, while marathoner Sinead Diver, Tokyo qualifier Ellie Pashley and 21-year-old Rose Davies are also in the mix.
Training partners Ryan Gregson and Jordan Williamsz are the headline acts in the 1500m event.